The Department of Education (DepED) ought to be transparent in reporting positive cases of COVID-19 among teachers, Ang Probinsyano Party-List Rep. Alfred Delos Santos said on Sunday.
Delos Santos made the call with just two weeks to go before the scheduled opening of classes for school year 2020-21.
The neophyte solon cited a report by ACT Teachers Party-List, which bared that over 20 teachers have been infected with the SARS-Cov2 virus that causes COVID-19 disease. Based on the report, there were 10 positive cases among teachers in Manila; Quezon City, six; Malabon City, five; Navotas City, three; Bicol region, two; and Region VII, 19.
Moreover, Delos Santos said there have been surveys among teachers wherein it was claimed that 50 percent of the respondents were being "compelled to physically report for duty despite surging cases of COVID-19 and the lack of safety and viability measures."
“Hinihingi po natin sa DepEd ang isang komprehensibo, malinaw at kongkretong plano ng kanilang aksyon upang tugunan ang mga hinaing ng ating mga guro (We are asking from DepEd a comprehensive, clear, and concrete plan of action in order to address teachers' worries),” Delos Santos said.
"Hindi pwedeng nagpupumilit lamang tayo magbukas ng klase pero pilay pa rin ang ating mga teachers. At lalong hindi pwede na magtatawag lamang tayo ng volunteers ganung wala namang proteksyon o benepisyo na ibibigay (We can't force the reopening of classes when in truth our teachers are crippled. And we shouldn't rely on volunteers especially if we can't give them any protection or benefits)," he added.
According to the party-list congressman, the predicament of the teachers should not be glossed over since their roles and responsibilities "are very much like other frontliners" in the ongoing pandemic.
"They should not be treated as martyrs but as professionals who should be honored and compensated," Delos Santos said.
Classes in public schools are set to begin on August 24 under a blended learning program. The modalities will be distance-based, since the deadly novel coronavirus makes face-to-face instruction with students very risky.